Solvent extraction of oils, fats, and waxes from particles of solid matter



June 1954 J. J. L. STAPELBERG 2,680,754

SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF OILS. FATS, AND wmzs FROM PARTICLES OF SOLID MATTER Filed Oct. 3, 1950 I0 I00 IOb I00 9 INVENTOR. James John Llewenold Stupelberg /Lgyab Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF OILS, FATS, AND WAXES FROM PARTICLES OF SOLID MAT- TER James John Llewenald Stapelberg,

Transvaal,

Tiger Oats & National Mill- Limited, Newtown, Johannes- Johannesburg, Africa, assignor to ing Company,

Malvern, Union of South burg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa, a company of the Union of South Africa Application October 3, 1950, Serial No. 188,248

Claims priority,

Africa 15 Claims. 1

' The present invention relatesto a new and improved process for the extraction of extractable matter, such as oils, fats and waxes, from solids capable of extraction which are of vegetable or animal or marine origin, by means of an organic solvent for the said matter, and to apparatus for carrying out the said new process.

Up to the present it has been conventional, insofar as I am aware, to treat such solids with a solvent in an extractor, in which the solid is at rest or agitated in a bath of solvent, or in which the solvent is caused to percolate through one or more beds or layers of solid capable of extraction. Where suitable, such solids may be first subjected to an expeller treatment. The miscellae obtained in practice, according to previous methods, are usually rather dilute, and in order to recover the extracted matter and the solvent therefrom, they are first concentrated in a series of pre-evaporators, usually operated at atmospheric pressure and indirectly heated by steam coils, and the rest of the solvent is then removed from the concentrate in an evaporator and a stripper operated under reduced pressure and with direct injection of steam.

I have now found that the extraction of extractable matter, such as oils, fats and waxes, from solids capable of extraction which are of vegetable or animal or marine origin (biological class), by means of an organic solvent is greatly improved by operating in accordance with my invention, in which a solvent to solute ratio by volume of not substantially greater than 1.5 to 1 is employed, excluding from such ratio that solvent which is retained by upon separation of miscella therefrom.

Preferably, centrifugal force is applied throughout the duration of the extraction for' passage of the solvent liquid (including miscella) through the solids, e. g. in the form of a bed inside a revolving perforated basket. However, broadly speaking, the bed of solids may be disposed in any other manner which includes a stationary bed, and, if desired, any means known in the art may be employed to assist the flow of the solvent liquid through the bed, or to sep arate the solvent from the bed.

Solvent extraction, in accordance with the present invention, may have one or more of the following advantages, as against previous methods:

(a) A more concentrated miscella is obtained direct. Thus, a miscella obtained direct in the solvent extraction of soy bean meal, according to previous methods, contains only between apthe exhausted meal application Union of South September 21, 1949 1. zoo-412.4)

proximately 14 and 22 per cent of oil by volume, (between approximately 19 and 28 per cent of oil by weight when using hexane as solvent), whereas in the process, according to the present invention, a concentrated miscella is obtained direct, which is withal more suitable for stripping, and which usually contains approximately 40 to 50 per cent or more of oil by volume, (about 50 to 60 per cent or more of oil by weight when using hexane as solvent).

The advantages obtainable with a more concentrated miscella are:

I. That the miscella can be stripped direct, e. g. in a tower type of evaporator, or after only little pre-evaporation treatment. Consequently no or only a small investment for pre-evaporators is required.

II. That owing to the reduction of the extent of the pre-evaporator treatment or its elimination, the extracted matter undergoes less heattreatment and therefore suffers no deterioration or less than hitherto. This is important as regards its color and/or keeping qualities.

III. An economy in energy for the removal of solvent from the miscella is attained.

(b) A smaller solvent-oil ratio is required, and in consequence solvent losses and the costs for solvent recovery are reduced. For example, in an efiicient soy bean solvent extraction plant, as hitherto employed, the solvent-oil ratio is approximately 4:1 by volume. When working according to the present invention, the solvent-oil ratio is 1.5:1 by volume or better, whilst the degree of extraction is the same or better.

The miscella is frequently more thoroughly removed from the extracted solid. Thus a soybean meal, which has been extracted, in accordance with the present invention, may contain only about to per cent by weight of solvent for recovery, and rarely more than 15 per cent, whereas according to the methods previously practiced, it frequently contains about to per cent of solvent for recovery.

Therefore by the present invention, the recovery of solvent from the residue is simplified, as fewer or simpler driers are required, and the corresponding outlay is reduced.

(11) Extractable matter can be extracted from solids of a type, which could not be extracted economically, according to previous solvent extraction methods, for example from South African maize germ meal.

(e) If a higher degree of extraction is desired than that normally attained in certain conven- I. For example, in certain conventional plants,

flaking is regarded as a moreor. less essential.

pretreatment. According to the present in vention, flaking has shown no appreciable advantage in the case of ground expelleroil cakes, inter alia, although in certaincases,

such as with cottonseed, flaking or pulverizing;

is advantageous. II. In certain conventional plants, conditioning of the initial material as regards moisture content, for example, in soy. bean extraction-him been found most importan In: accordance with the present invention, conditioning as regards moisture content can frequently be dispensed with, if desired.

As shown above, many of the problems besetting experts in solvent extraction, according to the methods and means hitherto employed, have been overcome by the present invention.

Extraction, in accordance with the invention, ispreferably carried out in a basket centrifuge.

Usually the solvent or miscella is sprayed on to the. solid to be extracted in the centrifuge. It may be desirable, previouslyto moistenthe solid with solvent ormiscella, or to rnix'it'therewith for transport into the centrifuge. Again the solid may be mixed with the. requisite amount of solvent or miscella from the beginning and centrifuged.

Advantageousl'y'the organicisolvent or miscella is pumped around in a closed circuit for extraction of the solid in the centrifuge. This new principle may find general. application in the centrifugal treatment of solids with" liquids.

It will usually be'desirablev to subject a given charge of solid to successive extractions with miscellae from earlier extractions, having successively decreasing concentrations and finally with clean solvent. provided for fresh solvent and for separately collected miscellae of various concentrationsfrom various stages of extraction.

A preferred method is to charge a single centrifuge or a battery of centrifuges with fresh solid to be extracted, and totreat it successively with different miscellae, each being more dilute than that preceding it until finally clean'solvent is passed through the'solid tobe extracted. The miscella employed for the initial'treatment of fresh solid conveniently may be the most' concentrated, or next most concentrated, miscella from an earlier operation on solidmaterial from the same or a similar source. Cocks are pro-- vided to switch over to the supplies of'miscella'e' of different concentration and of clean solvent. Other cocks are provided adapted to switch over the effluent from-the centrifuges to ducts leading to the containers for miscellae of corresponding concentration. The time of switch-over of the cooks for the effluent is preferably correlated to the time of switch-over of the corresponding cooks for the feed of miscella. the cooks may be effected automatically.

Again, a series of centrifuges. maybe employed Separate containers maybe The control of in the-first of. which fresh solidris extracted with the most concentrated. miscella': or. next most concentrated miscella from an earlier operation, Whereas in the last the most impoverished residue is treated with fresh solvent, and so on through the series according to the counter-current principle:

Miscella is used for extraction until a concentrated miscella'. is. obtained, preferably suit able for direct. stripping. The concentrated miscella'e contain e. g. about 40 to per cent by volume or more of oil.

Thesize'and speed of the centrifuge, and therewith theanrountof centrifugal force employed,

are selected according to circumstances. The

amount of centrifugal force should be sufficient to leave: only a" small amount of miscella, say between 10 and 20 per cent by weight, or even between:5rand 10 per cent or less, in the residue.

The process is particularly adapted for the solventextractionpf. oils and/ or. fats, hereinafter referred... to as oleaginous. matter? from. Vega-.- tablemattercontainihg the same, such asmaize g erms,,mieliev (maize) germ meal, maize (corn), cotton.seed, .soya bean, peanut, sesame seed, rape seed, cocoanut. meat, linseed, ground nuts, sun? flower seed, palm kernels, copra and. oil. cakes therefrom,. or from. animal or marine matter, such as. from. whale, fish and/or partsthereof, suet, hides, or bones from land" animals, etc.

Any organicsolvents with the desired. extraction properties and having a boiling, range. allowingoftheir easy recoverymay be employed. Examplesof these are solvent. naphtha,.petroleum naphtha, n-hexane, n-hept'ane, mixedl octanes, tri-chlorethylene,. ethylene. dichloride, methyl chloride, carbon disulphide, acetone. andethyl ether, or mixturesthereof.

If desired provision may be made. for. raising the temperature of the materialinthe centrifuge, e. g. by. injectingsteam, 0r. hotsolvent vapor,. e. g. that. produced during. solvent recovery, into. the centrifuge, orby indirectly heating aswith steam, and/or. by, preheating the solid. and/or solvent prior to its introduction into. the centrifuge.

If thesolidis. not in a formsuitable for extraction, it. is comminuted or subjectedto some other preparatory. treatment, e. g. grinding or insomecases. flaking, cooking, etc.

Itis preferred thatv sufficient fibrous material of a character. which will facilitate separation of. miscellafrom. residue be present. If. this is not-naturally present inthe solid .to be extracted, such fibrousematerial I may be. admixed therewith, iffdesirede. g. .in' the form. of bran, husks, chaff; straw, asbestosandthe like. If desired two con centric centrifuge,basketsmay be provided, and the said. fibrous materialv filled into the space therebetween toformajacket offilter material. Alternatively afilter cloth or. filter. paper may be. arranged to line thecentrifuge baskets.

An interesting application of the invention in practice is the extraction of maize oil frommielie (maize) germ meal; Thismeal is a by-product of milling of'maize for the production of samp (hulledlndian corn), and usually contains about. 10" to 14 per cent of oil by weight, say about 12 percent on an average. It Washitherto. not considered economic to extract oil. from this. ma-

. terial, as the material is. too poor. in oil andtoo inconvenient to process according to conventional methods because of the high content of fines.

It was therefore surprisingthat by treating mielie (maize) germ meal, containin 13.3 per cent by weight of oil in various batches in basket centrifuges with miscellae, obtained in previous extractions, of step-wise decreasing concentration of extracted oil dissolved in n-hexane, and finally with clean n-hexane, on an average with an over-all of 30 to 35 per cent by weight of nhexane calculated on mielie germ meal, about 12.5 per cent by weight of maize oil was extracted. Further a residue containing only 0.8 per cent by weight of oil and substantially all of the original protein, admirably suitable as an animal feed, e. g. as a pig feed, was obtained.

The residue contained less than 20 per cent by weight of solvent, which was recoverable with little expenditure of heat. The miscella obtained direct by extraction contained approximately 50 per cent by volume of maize oil, from which the solvent was recoverable direct in a stripper, without having recourse to evaporators.

Like results are obtained with soy bean meal.

The following numbered examples are by way of illustration and not of limitation, since the general principles are applicable to the various solids to be extracted and solvents employed in my process.

Emample I pounds of corn germ meal are treated in a five-stage extraction with normal hexane as follows. The corn germ meal is placed in a perforated centrifuge basket operating at a centrifugal force of 1500 times gravity, and is sprayed with 3.5 pounds of miscella having a concentration of 33 per cent oil by weight in normal hexane, said miscella being that obtained in the second stage treatment of a previous similar extraction of corn germ meal from the same source. The original corn germ meal contained 12 per cent by weight, i. e. 1.2 pounds of oil. The treatment in this first stage is continued by recycling of miscella, if necessary, through the meal in the centrifuge basket, until the concentration of oil in the miscella is raised to at least 50 per cent by weight. After final separation of this cencentrated miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a second stage treatment with 3 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the third stage treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentration of 19.4 per cent by weight. This second stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until the concentration of the oil in the miscella is raised to 33 per cent by weight. After final separation'of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a third stage treatment with 2.7 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the fourth stage treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentration of 9.6 per cent by weight. This third stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until the oil concentration of the miscella is raised to 19.4 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a fourth stage treatment with 2.4 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the fifth stage treatment of said previous extraction and having an oil concentration of 3.4 per cent by weight. This fourth stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until the oil concentration of the miscella is raised to 9.6 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter. miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal 6. is similarly contacted in a fifth stage treatment with 2.23 pounds of fresh normal hexane, and this fifth stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until a miscella having an oil concentration of 3.4 per cent by Weight is obtained.

As above pointed out, the above-mentioned fresh meal fed to the process contained 1.2 pounds of oil. In this illustrative example, the meal after the first stage treatment still contains 1.2 pounds of oil, and also contains 1.2 pounds of hexane. The meal after the second stage treatment contains .63 pound of oil and 1.3 pounds of hexane. The meal after the third stage treatment contains .3 pound of oil and 1.25 pounds of hexane. The meal after the fourth stage treatment contains .12 pound of oil and 1.15 pounds of hexane. The final exhausted meal from the fifth stage treatment contains only 0.037 pound of oil, and 1.06 pounds of hexane.

The foregoing illustrative extraction is the result of feeding 10 pounds of fresh meal to the first stage, 2.23 pounds of fresh normal hexane to the fifth stage, and advancing by one stage each of the respective miscellae of a similar previous extraction, with the miscella from the first stage of said previous extraction going to solvent recovery. Of the 2.23 pounds of fresh hexane fed to the fifth stage, the equivalent of 1.06 pounds of this hexane is left in the spent meal, leaving 1.17 pounds of hexane (neglecting unavoidable losses) which hexane finally leaves the process in the highest concentrated miscella as the result of the fourth subsequent extraction. Thus the solvent to oil ratio is 1.17 to 1.2 by weight, or substantially 1:1 by weight. The volume ratio *of solvent to oil is approximately 1.33 to 1.

Example II 10 pounds of soya bean meal are treated in a four-stage extraction with normal hexane as follows: The soya bean meal is placed in a perforated centrifuge basket operating at a centrifugal force of 1500 times gravity, and is sprayed with 4.6 pounds of miscella having a concentration of 28 per cent oil by weight in normal hexane, said miscella being that obtained in the second stage treatment of a previous similar extraction of soya bean meal from the same source. The original soya bean meal contained 20 per cent by weight, i. e. 2.0 pounds of oil. The treatment in this first stage is continued by recycling of miscella, if necessary, through the meal in the centrifuge basket, until the concentration of oil in the miscella is raised to at least 50 per cent by weight. After final separation of this concentrated miscella from the soya bean meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a second stage treatment with 4. pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the third stage-treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentration of 14 per cent by weight. This second stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until the concentration of the oil in the miscella is raised to 28 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the soya bean meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a third stage treatment with 3.7 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the fourth stage treatment of said previous extraction; and having an oil concentration of 5 per cent by weight. This third stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until the oil concentration of the miscella is raised to 14 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the soya bean meal, the meal is similarly contacted .in:ajourth:stagetreatment with 3.34 pounds of exhausted meal-nomthe fourth stage treatment d5 contains only 0.07 pound of oil, and 1.3? pounds ofhexane.

Theioregoing illustrative extraction is the result-of feeding pounds of fresh meal to the .first'stage,;3.3epounds of fresh normal hexane rtothe'fourth stage, and advancingby one stage each of the respective miscellae of a similar previous-extraction, with the miscella from the first stage of saidprevious extraction going to solvent recovery. Of the 3.34 -pounds of fresh hexane .fed ito the fourth stage, the equivalent of 1.37 :pounds of this hexane isleft in the spent meal, leaving 1.97 pounds of hexane (neglecting unavoidable losses) which hexane finally leavesthe system in the highest-concentrated miscella as .the result of the third subsequent extraction. Thus the solvent to oil ratio is 1.97 to 2.0 by weighuor substantially 1:1 by weight. The volume ratio ef'solvent to oil is approximately 1.37 1.0.1.

Example III 10 pounds of cottonseed meal are treated in a four-stage extraction with normal hexane as follows: The cotton seed meal is placed in a .perforatedcentriiuge basket operating at a centrifugalforce of 1500' times gravity, andis sprayed :with 5.7 pounds-of miscella "having a concentration of 23.5 oil by weight in normal hexane, said miscella being that obtained in the second stage treatment of a previous similar extraction of cot- .meal is similarly-contacted -a second stage treatment with 5.7 pounds of miscella, this miscellabeing that obtained from the thirdstage treatment of. said previous extraction, andhaving an, oil concentration of 11.9 per centby weight. This second stage treatment is continued, if necessary-until the concentration of the oil in the :miscella is raised to 23.5 per cent by weight. ,nfterfinal separation of the latter miscella from the. cotton seed meal, themeal is similarly contacted in a third stage treatment with 5.5 pounds ofmiscella, this miscella being that obtained from the fourth stage treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentration of e per cent by weight. This third stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until the oil concentrationofsthe miscella is raised to 11.9 per cent by weight. After final separation'of-the latter miscella from the cotton seed meal; the meal is similarly contacted in a fourthstage treatment with 5.0 pounds of fresh normal hexane, and this fourth stage treatmentis continued; if necessary,

until a miscella having an oil concentration :of 4 per cent by weight is obtained.

As above pointed out, the above-mentioned fresh meal fed to the process contained 3.0 pounds of oil. In this illustrative example, ,the meal after the first stage treatment contains 12.4 pounds of oil, and also contains 1.4 pounds of hexane. The mealafter the second stage treatment contains .73 pound of oil and 2.1 poundsof hexane. The meal after the third stage treatment contains .25 pound of oil and 1.9.poundsof hexane. The final exhausted meal from .the fourth stage treatment contains only 0.08 pound of oil, and 2.0 pounds of hexane.

The foregoing illustrative extraction is'the result of feeding 10 pounds of fresh meal-to the first stage, 5.0 pounds of fresh normal hexane to the fourth stage-and advancing by one stage each of therespective miscellae of a similar previous extraction, with the miscella from thefirst stage of said previous extraction going to solvent recovery. or the 5.0 pounds of fresh hexane fed to the fourth stage, the equivalent of 2.0 pounds of this hexane is left in'the spent meal, leaving 3.0 pounds of hexane (neglecting unavoidable losses) which hexane finally leaves the system; in the highest concentrated miscella as the result of the third subsequent extraction. Thus the solvent to oil ratio is 3.0 to 3.0 byweight or 1:1 by weight. The volume ratio of solvent to oil is approximately 1.38 to .1.

The following example illustrates the .use. ,of a heavy solvent. The particular solvent employed, namely, trichlorethylene, has a specific gravity of 1.46, whereas n-hexane, which may be considered to be illustrative of a light solvent, has

aspecific gravity of 0.66.

Example IV tion of 21.4 per cent oil by weight in trichlorethylone, said miscella being that obtained in the second stage treatment of a previous similar-extraction of corn germ meal from the same source. The original corn germ meal contained 12per cent by weight, i. e. 1.2 pounds of oil. The treatment in this first stage is continued by recycling of ,miscella, if necessary, through the meal inthe centrifuge basket, until the concentration of'oil in the miscella is raised to at least 32 per cent by weight. After final separation ofthis concentrated miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a second stage treatment with 6.5 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the third stage treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentration of 13.0 per cent by weight. This second stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until the concentration of the oil int-he miscella is raised to 21.4 per cent by Weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a third stage treatmentwith 5.8 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the fourth stage treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentrationof 6;? per cent by weight. This third stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until theoil concentration-10f the miscella is raised to 13.0 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a fourth stage treatment with 5.2 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the fifth stage treatment of said previous extraction and having an oil concentration of 2.7 per cent by weight. This fourth stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until the oil concentration of the miscella is raised to 6.7 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted in a fifth stage treatment with 4.8 pounds of fresh trichlorethylene, and this fifth stage treatment is continued, if necessary, until a miscella having an oil concentration of 2.7 per cent by weight is obtained.

As above pointed out, the above-mentioned fresh meal fed to the process contained 1.2 pounds of oil. In this illustrative example, the meal after the first stage treatment contains 1.7 Pounds of oil, and also contains 3.6 pounds of trichlorethylene. The meal after the second stage treatment contains ,9 pound of oil and 3.2 pounds of trichlorethylene. The meal after the third stage treatment contains .44 pound of oil and 3.0 pounds of trichlorethylene. The meal after the fourth stage treatment contains .19 pound of oil and 2.6 pounds of trichlorethylene. The final exhausted meal from the fifth stage treatment contains only 0.06 pound of oil, and 2.4 pounds of trichlorethylene.

The foregoing illustrative extraction is the result of feeding 10 pounds of fresh meal to the first stage, 4.8 pounds of fresh trichlorethylene to the fifth stage, and advancing by one stage each of the respective miscellae of a similar previous extraction, with the miscella from the first stage of said previous extraction going to solvent recovery. Of the 4.8 pounds of fresh trichlorethylene fed to the fifth stage, the equivalent of 2.4 pounds of this trichlorethylene is left in the spent meal, leaving 2.4 pounds of trichlorethylene (neglecting unavoidable losses) which trichlorethylene finally leaves the system in the highest concentrated miscella as the result of the fourth subsequent extraction. Thus the solvent to oil ratio is 2.4 to 1.2 by weight, or substantially 2:1 by weight. The volume ratio of solvent to oil is approximately 1.26 to 1.

The following example illustrates the use of vacuum filtration.

Example V 10 pounds of corn germ meal are treated in a seven-stage extraction with normal hexane as follows. The corn germ meal is disposed in a bed in a vacuum filter, and is sprayed with pounds of miscella having a concentration of 37 per cent oil by weight in normal hexane, said miscella being that obtained in the second stage treatment of a previous similar extraction of corn germ meal from the same source. The original corn germ meal contained 13 per cent by weight, i. e. 1.3 pounds of oil. A vacuum of 500 mm. of mercury is applied to the underside of the bed of meal on the filter and the miscella sucked through. The treatment in this first stage yields a miscella having a concentration of 50 per cent by weight of oil.. After final separation of this concentrated miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted under vacuum in a second stage treatment with 4.6 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the third stage treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentration of 26.3

per cent by weight. This second stage treatment yields a miscella having a concentration of 37 per cent by weight of oil. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted under vacuum in a third stage treatment with 4.3 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the fourth stage treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentration of 17.5 per cent by weight. This third stage treatment yields a miscella having an oil concentration of 26.3 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted under vacuum in a fourth stage treatment with 4.2 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the fifth stage treatment of said previous extraction and having an oil concentration of 10.8 per cent by weight. This fourth stage treatment yields a miscella having an oil concentration of 17.5 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal i similarly contacted under vacuum in a fifth stage treatment with 4.0 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the sixth stage treatment of said previous extraction and having an oil concentration of 5.7 per cent by weight. This fifth stage treatment yields a miscella having an oil concentration of 10.8 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted under vacuum in a sixth stage treatment with 3.9 pounds of miscella, this miscella being that obtained from the seventh stage treatment of said previous extraction, and having an oil concentration of 2 per cent by weight. This sixth stage treatment yields a miscella having an oil concentration of 5.7 per cent by weight. After final separation of the latter miscella from the corn germ meal, the meal is similarly contacted under vacuum in a seventh stage with 3.9 pounds of fresh normal hexane. This seventh stage treatment yields a miscella having an oil concentration of 2 per cent by weight. The final exhausted meal from the seventh stage treatment contains only 0.085 pound of oil, and 2.62 pounds of hexane.

The foregoing illustrative extraction is the result of feeding 10 pounds of fresh meal to the first stage, 3.9 pounds of fresh normal hexane to the seventh stage, and advancing by one stage each of the respective miscellae of a similar previous extraction, with the miscella from the first stage of said previous extraction going to solvent recovery. Of the 3.9 pounds of fresh hexane fed to the seventh stage, the equivalent of 2.62 pounds of this hexane is left in the spent meal, leaving 1.28 pounds of hexane (neglecting unavoidable losses) which hexane finally leaves the system in .28 to 1.3 by weight, or substantially 1:1 by weight. The volume ratio of solvent to oil is approximately 1.36 to 1.

It will be understood that the foregoing examples are based upon particular operation conditions, and particular batches of meal from particular sources, and generally illustrate the practice of the invention. The extraction of solids from various sources under various conditions merely requires, on the part of the operator, a determination of the per cent of solvent holdup of the particular solids under the particularemployed conditions of separation of exhausted solids ln the last stage of the process, or under simulated conditions, so that a solvent to solute ratio by volume of not greatly exceeding 1.5 to 1 may be chosen, which ratio, as above pointed out, excludes that solvent which is retained by the exhausted meal after separation of miscella therefrom. To obtain final miscella of at least 40- per cent solute content by volume, it is merely necessary to choose at least the minimum requisite number of stages of treatment for this purpose, all of which will be well understood by persons skilled in the art upon becoming familiar herewith.

The expression solids when herein employed includes pulps.

The nature of the invention and how it may be carried out in practice will be further illustrated byway of example with reference to the accompanying flow-sheet, which illustrates by way of example the lay-outs of a plant in accordance with the invention. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples given.

Referring to the flow-sheet, solid material capable of extraction is contained in the storage bin or hopper 1. tion, such as beans, kernels or nuts, is passed from the storage bin l by way of the duct 2 to cracking rollers 3, which reduce it to a suitable size. If the solid material is already in a form suitable for extraction, meals, it is passed through by-pass 4 to pipe 5 leading direct to the extraction units. The comminuted material from the cracking rollers 3 is in view of the flexibility of the present new process. with regard to the initial material, usually directly suitable for centrifugal solvent extraction in accordance with the present invention and is therefore passed through duct 6 to pipe 5 leading to the extraction unit. Where necessary, suitable. units for pretreatment of the material from rollers. 3 may be provided, as for example, a dehulling unit, a conditioner and flaking rollers, not shown on the fiow sheet. The solid material to be extracted passes from pipe 5 into the loading device I, from which it passes into the basket of the centrifugal solvent extractor 8, which latter ispreferably constructed gas-tight to avoidloss of solvent. Fresh solvent is contained in the solvent tank 9; whereas concentrated' miscella is containedin tank It. tanks l0, Illa, 10b and I00 contain miscella in clecreasingorder of concentration, from which the-various miscellae can be taken off by the pipes H,- Ha, [lb and Ho respectively, which are controlled by the respective valves I3, and I30, to thesolvent injector in the centrifugal extractor 8, which injector usually has the form of a spray.

In starting the operation concentrated miscella from tank 10 is passed through pipe l l and valve 13, which is now open, while valves Ita etc. are kept closed, to the solvent injector in the extractor 8, where it-passes through the solid in the basket, and extracts extractable matter, e. g. oil therefrom.

Any centrifugal force'suitable' to the circumstances may be employed. Good results have, for example, been obtained with centrifugal forces between about 600 g. and 1500 g.

The miscella thus obtained passes from the centrifuge through pipe l5, and is pumped by means of pump l6 and pipe H to the manifold 18, from which the valve controlled connections 49, 190, I91), I90 and '20lead to'the tanks 10, 10a, illb, Hlc and 9, respectively. At this stage the valve Material requiring comminuas in the case of certain The connection 9' is open whereas the valve controlled connections 19a to 20 are closed.

When the requisite amount of concentrated:-

miscella has been circulated through the centrifuge until further extraction at this concentration is no longer considered economical, valves i3 and. 19 are closed, and valves 13a and 19a are opened, thus admitting a miscella of lesser concentration from tank ltd to the centrifuge '8 and 16, pipe l'l, manifold It and valve-controlled connection 20.

Finally valve It is closed and the centrifuge run until miscella is expelled as far as possible, usually down to a content of 10- per cent, or even 5 per cent, or less.

With solvents of lower density, e. g. n-hexane, the solvent to oil Weight ratio (ratio by weight of solvent to oil content of feed solids) employed isusually 1:1 or less. With solvents of higher density, e. g. trichlorethylene, the solvent to oil weight ratio employed is usually somewhat higher, e. g. 2:1. However, in any case, the solvent to solute ratio by volume is not substantially greater than 1.511, and is usually less, e. g. 1.421, or less. The control of the valves may be automatic. The miscella in tank It is now so concentrated, that it is passed direct by way of pipe 23 to the evaporator-stripping towers.

Extracted meal is removed from the centrifuge basket by a knife or other suitable means and passed via duct 24 into the extracted meal bin 25, and thence for the recovery of the solventcontained therein, by duct 25 to the meal drier- 2?, which may be of any suitable construction and operation. For example, meal drier 21 may be steam jacketed, and live steam may be injected through pipe 28, for passage through the drier 2i counter-currently to the meal, which is conveyed therethrough by screw-conveyors 29, and finally discharged at 23a.

Solvent vapors and steam issue from the driers at 353 and 3i, and are-passed through pipe 32 to the condenser 33, whence the condensed liquids are passed through pipe 34 into the water and solvent separation tank 35, wherein water and solvent are separated by layer formation. Thence the recovered solvent may be fed to fresh solvent tank 9 by means of pump 36, and pipe 22.

Any other means of solvent separation may be employed, such as, distillation, particularly when.

the solvent has an appreciable solubility in water.

As shown, concentrated miscella is passed by means of pipe 23 into the top of the falling filmevaporator tower 3? in which it is passed in counter-current to live steam introducedat the bottom of the tower from pipe 38. The miscella issuing from the bottom of tower 31 is passed by pipe 39' to the top of the vacuum stripping column'il into the bottom of which live steam is, introduced from pipe M. The bottom of column 40 may be steam-jacketed.

The extract, e. g. oil, which has thus been. completely freed from solvent is withdrawn from the bottom of the column 40 to storage through pipe Q3.

Solvent vapor-and steam are withdrawn from the top of columns 31 andMi-through pipes' lk and 35, respectively, into-pipe46 to condenser 41'.

The vacuum producing equipment is indicated at 48 and may be of the steam jet or other type. The solvent and water thus condensed are passed by way of pipe 49 to the water and solvent separation tank 35. As previously pointed out, any other means for the separation of water and solvent, such as distillation, may be employed. Likewise, any other means for the recovery of solvent from the miscella and/or from the meal may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Heat exchange and other equipment may be installed in the solvent recovery plant, as required or desired.

After the draining of miscella from tank III, the miscella in tank I (la is transferred to tank l0, such as by a pump (not shown). This is followed by the transfer of the miscella in tank Iflb to tank Illa, then by the transfer of the miscella in tank I to tank Hlb, and then by the transfer of the miscella in tank 9 to tank I 00, such as by suitable pumps (not shown). Fresh solvent is then introduced from supply pipe 2| and/or pipe 22 into tank 9. A fresh charge of solid material to be extracted is placed in centrifuge 8, whereupon the above-described cycle of operations is repeated.

Alternatively, after the draining of miscella from tank I0, and the placing of a fresh charge of solid material to be extracted in the centrifuge 8, the miscella in tank Iea is passed to tank I0 through centrifuge 8 by opening valves I Eat and I9, whereupon if it is desired to continue the extraction at this stage, valve I311 is closed and valve I3 opened so that the miscella in tank II] may be passed as many times as desired through the charge in the revolving centrifuge 8 and back to tank III in the manner already described.

- After the extraction at this stage is carried on to the extent desired, valves I3 and I 9 are closed, and valves I31) and Ida are opened, whereupon the miscella in tank Idb is passed through centrifuge 8 to tank Illa. When this has been completed valve I312 is closed, and if it is desired to continue the extraction at this stage, valve Isa is opened, and the miscella now in tank I Ila is passed as many times fuge 8, and back to already described.

After the extraction at this latter stage is caras desired through centritank Illa, in the manner ried on to the extent desired, valves I30 and Mia are closed, and valves I30 and I9?) are opened, so

as to pass the miscella from tank I 00 to tank I0b via centrifuge 8, and the charge contained therein. When this has been completed valve I30 is closed, and if it is desired to continue the extraction at this stage, valve I 3b is opened, and the miscella now in tank Itb is passed as many times as desired through centrifuge 8, and back to tank MD, in the manner already described.

After the extraction at this latter stage is carried on to the extent desired, valves I32: and Iilb are closed, and valves I4 and I So are opened, whereupon the miscella in tank 9 is passed to tank I00 through centrifuge 8. When this transfer of miscella has been completed valve I 4 is closed, and if desired, extraction at this stage may be continued by opening valve I30, so as to pass as many times as desired the miscella now in tank Illc through centrifuge 8, and back to tank I00 in the manner already described.

When extraction at this latter stage has been carried on to the extent desired, valves I30 and I90 are closed, and fresh solvent is charged to tank 9 such as from solvent supply line 2|. Valves I4 and 20 are now opened to efiect the last 14 stage of the extraction, by passing as many times as desired the solvent in tank 9 through centri fuge B, and back to tank 9 to produce miscella of the lowest concentration in the process.

After this has been completed, the miscella is drained from tank Ill, and passed to solvent re.- covery as already described. Likewise the exhausted charge in centrifuge 8 is removed, and passed to solvent recovery as already described.

Thereupon, with the placing of a fresh charge in centrifuge 8, the above cycle of operations are repeated.

Obviously, any other cycle of operations ac complishing my purpose may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Likewise, any other number of stages of extraction may be employed, such as 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 or more, as desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

While I have particularly described my invention, for purposes of illustration, in connection with a single centrifuge, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that any desired number of centrifuges may be employed following the principle of successively extracting with miscella of progressively decreasing oil concentration, and with ratios of solvent to solute concentration in the original charge as described, and whether any individual charge of solids remains in a single centrifuge throughout the extraction, or progresses from centrifuge to centrifuge in any desired manner during the extraction, or otherwise. However, I prefer to operate in a manner such that any original charge of solids to a centrifuge remains in that centrifuge throughout the extraction.

While hereinabove I have referred to mixing the solid to be extracted with solvent for transport into the centrifuge, e. g. in the form of a pumpable slurry, I prefer, when following the principle of successively extracting with miscella of progressively decreasing oil concentration (and finally with fresh solvent), to transport the fresh charge of solid to be extracted into the centrifuge in the form of a mixture (e. g. a slurry) with miscella of highest oil content produced in practicing the process.

Thus miscella from tank I0 may be used for this purpose, prior to passing it to the evaporatorstripping towers, or to other solvent recovery processing, provided that its volume is permitted to build up in tank II] as the result of successive extractions in order to provide suilicient liquid for this purpose. The miscella is then separated from the charged mass by centrifuging, and may be returned to tank I0 by opening valve I9. A portion only of the contents of tank III, e. g. equivalent in volume to the final miscella produced during a single extraction, may then be sent to solvent recovery as above described, in order to maintain in tank l0 sufficient liquid for subsequent slurrying purposes. On the other hand and if desired, this portion may be withdrawn from tank I0 prior to such slurrying procedure, provided sufiicient miscella is left in tank III to accomplish the desired purpose. It will be understood that the miscella employed for slurrying purposes may be kept in a tank separate from tank I0 and returned thereto upon separation from the charged mass, in which case, if desired, the final miscella from tank I 0 may be transferred to such separate tank, and the portion of concentrated miscella going to solvent recovery may be removed from such separate tank. Any other procedure may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

W Tanks im tfla, b, lilo and-9,orFtheiriequiValent "and irrespective of number, may be of any -izlesirl-i l'or convenient size. "Themiscella of the respectiveconcentrationpresentin any particular tank may be-of any desired-quantity,-e. g. the I quantity advanced'to-the particular tank during onsubsequent to extraction withmiscella of nex lower concentration; or more. In any event, the final 'miscella which is produced-by the extracition' and which is withdrawn from tank It, or its equivalentyshoulri be of at leastthe minimum solute content set forth herein to obtain the 'benefits of observing'a relatively low ratio of fresh solventto' the solute oontent of the original solidscharged to centrifuge '8, as defined =herein, and this same principle ispreferably observed in charging fresh solvent to tanks, or its equiva- '-lent,-and in advancing miscella from stage to stage in the series.

'Irrother words, the miscella in any one or more *o'rthe-respective'tanks may be permitted to build up "somewhat from'previous extractions, if de- "s'iredfor anyreason; and likewise miscella of the respective concentration may be-added to any -one'or'more oithese tanks, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. For example, "tank liimay contain a reserve of miscella to be usedfor slurrying'purposes in charging solids to be-extractedtothe centrifuge 8, since liquid considerably in excessofthatproduced by a single extraction is requiredforthis purpose.

A' number of centrifuge solvent extractors may becom'bined ina'battery.

"The term particles as used in the claims is intended to include vvhole seeds, pulverized, flaked orcomminuted seeds, disintegrated or comminuted fish, whaler'or otheroil-containing solids'oi the animal or marine class, or other solids '(includingspulps) containing solvent-extractable oil, fat and/or Wax; to which this invention in its generic senseis applicable for the solvent extraction of such oil, fat and/or wax.

Also, for convenience, the term"miscella as used in'the claims is intended to include fresh "solvent, as well as solvent having oil, fat and/or wax in solution. It is to be understood that the above particular j'description is by way ofillustration, and that changes, omissions, additions, substitutions and/or modifications may be made withoutdepartingfifrom the spirit or the invention. Ac- ;cordingly it is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the. claims, what- Lever features .of patentable noveltyresidain the invention.

This applicationris .a continuation-in-part voi mycopending application'Serial .No..'.127,233, filed November 8, 1949.

I'claim:

.1.A process for thesolvent extraction of one .OfthegrOup consisting of oil, fat and wax from particles of solid matter ofbiological origin, characterized inthat the solvent to solute ratio by volume, excluding from such ratio that solvent lwhich is retainedby the. particles of solid matter upon separationof. miscella therefrom, is main- .tained sufficiently low as not to .be. in excess of 16 approximately 115 to 1 to :produce 1 a miscella-rof at; least approximately 40 per cent-:solutacontent by-volume.

The process of claim 1, characterized in'athat the solid matter is subjected to extractiondn step-Wisemanner with miscella of progressively decreasingsolute content.

The process or elaim 2, characterized in that the solid matteris maintained inta bed-through which the misoeliais passed.

4. The process of claim 3, characterized in that the bed is disposed in a revolvin centrifuge basket to assist in passin the-miscella through said bed, and to assist inseparating said miscella from said bed.

5. The process of claim 3, characterized'in that ithersolid matter is oil-containing vegetable matter.

6. The process of claim-5, characterizedin that .the particles of solid matter are firstcontacted with a miscella of such concentration that there is substantially no reduction in the oil content of the solid matter as a result of saidscontact.

"7. The process of claim 5, characterized-in that tthevegetable matter is flaked.

8. The process of claim 5, characterized in that thevegetab1e matter is selected-from the-group -consisting of cotton seed, so-yabean, linseedsun- 'fiower seed; peanut, corn germ, and sesame seed.

9. The process of claim 3,-characterizedin that the solid matter is-selectedfromoil-bearing'marine' life.

10. The process of 'claim B characterized in that *the solid matter is transported to the-bed in the form of a slurry withmiscella-of at least approximately 40 percent solute-ccntent-by vol ume.

11. The process of claim '10, characterized in --that the bed is 'formedfromthe slurry in *a re- 40 volving centrifuge.

i2. The process of claim l,-characterized in 'that the solvent to solute ratio by volume as'defined is-maintained sufficiently low as not to ex- I ceed approximately-114 to 1.

=" 1 3. The process of claim 1, characterizedin that the solvent employed is hexane.

'14. The process of claim 1, characterized that fibrous material is admixed'with the material to be extracted.

15.The process of "claim 1, characterized in that the solvent is'passed'in "closed circulation through thesolidmatter.

References-Gitedin-the file of this patent O1c0tt. .Oct. 3, .1950 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF ONE OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF OIL, FAT AND WAX FROM PARTICLES OF SOLID MATTER OF BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE SOLVENT TO SOLUTE RATIO BY VOLUME, EXCLUDING FROM SUCH RATIO THAT SOLVENT WHICH IS RETAINED BY THE PARTICLES OF SOLID MATTER UPON SEPARATION OF MISCELLA THEREFROM, IS MAINTAINED SUFFICIENTLY LOW AS NOT TO BE IN EXCESS OF APPROXIMATELY 1.5 TO 1 TO PRODUCE A MISCELLA OF AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY 40 PER CENT SOLUTE CONTENT BY VOLUME. 